Braking mechanism for rail vehicles



PL F21LLDVVE32S BRAKING MECHANISM FOR 'RAIL VHICLES Feb. 8, 1949.

6 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May 16, 1946 Feb. 8, 1949. H. F. FLowERs BRAKING MECHANISM Fon RAIL VEHICLES'r 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1946 Feb. 8, 1949. H. F. FLowERs BRAKING MECHANISM FOR RAIL VEHICLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 16, 1946 Z1 Imvmtov.

Feb. 8, 1949. H, F, FLOWERS 2,461,263 BRAKING MEcHANrsM Fon RAIL VEHICLES 'l Filed May 16, 1.946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z6 l Z7 Feb- 8, 1949 H. F. FLOWERS BRAKING MECHANISM FOR RAIL VEHICLES 6 Sheets-Sklave?l Filed May 16, 1946 ,Saug

Feb. s, 1949.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 16, 1946 i ,iw

N NNI E R NM1 NN kr f d @N www @H R Patented Feb. 8, 1,949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAKING MECHANISM FOR RAIL VEHICLES Henry Fort Flowers, Findlay, Ohio t Application May 16, 1946, Serial No. 670,148

(Cl. 18S-33) 11 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a rail Vehicle and more particularly to a rail vehicle wherein the body is mounted on axleless trucks, each of which is turnable about a vertical axis, oscillatable on a horizontal axis, and movable vertically relative to the body of the vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide a vehicle of the above type with a braking mechanism fo reach truck operable from a common source wherein the tie rod connecting opposed trucks by a turning or twisting movement thereof is utilized for operating the brakes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a braking mechanism of the above type wherein the brake shoe associated with each truck is mounted in a brake cage to which the tie rod is connected so as to permit free movement of the truck in a vertical plane. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a braking mechanism of the above type wherein the pivotal support for the brake cage is so disposed that the weight of the tie rod tends to move the brake shoe away from the wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a braking mechanism of the above type wherein a swivel pin carried by the tie bar for turning the same is so disposed thereon as to move in a circular path when the trucks swing about their vertical axes and the connection of thebrake operating link to the actuating lever therefor is disposed at the center of said circular path whereby the trucks are free to swing without disturbing the action of the braking mechanism.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mine car embodying the improvements with the heavy end plates removed for the purpose of showing the trucks and associated king posts on which the body is mounted;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the trucks as turned on a vertical axis 'for following a curved track;

Figure 3 is a side view of one end of the mine car; f

Figure 4 is a partial end view of the mine car;

Figure 5 is a view of the opposed trucks at one end of the car on which the body is mounted and also showing the tie bar connecting the trucks and the brake mechanism; Y

Figure 6 is an end view of the trucks showing the brake'cage and its mounting on the wheel 2 truck frame and the tie bar connecting the same, and also showing the heavy oor plate on which the king posts are mounted;

Figure 7 is a side view of the parts shown in VFigure 6, parts being broken away and in section;

Figure '7a is a fragmentary vertical crossv sectional view illustrating the light load condition of the spring;

Figure '7b is a view partly in side elevationand partly in section of a truck showing the truck frame as tilted at an angle to the horizontal;

Figure 7c is a sectional view on the line 'lc--lc of Figure 7a.;

Figure 8 is a sectional View on the line 8-8 of Figure 5 showing on an enlarged scale the connection between the tie bar and the brake supporting bracket and also showing the connection to the tie bar for twisting the same to operate the brakes.

The improved rail car includes a-bodywhich is`constructed of plates of rectangular shape.V

These plates are connected by welding and riveting to provide a very rigid body structure. The body includes side plates/l, l and endplates 2, 2. There is a heavy end plate 3 extending from one side of the car to the other, beneath which are the supporting trucks for the body. There is a similar heavy end plate at the other end of the car. In between the end plates is a well. The side plates I, l are extended downwardly to form the side plates of the well and floor plates 4, 4 form the bottom of the well and extend from one side thereof to the other. These floor plates 4, 4 are joined to the heavy plates 3 by vertical plates 5. These vertical plates forming the ends oi' the well serve as transverse beams, having the effect of a Z-bar, with the end oor plate forming one leg of the Z-bar and the well floor plate forming the other leg of the Z-bar.'A The meeting edges of the plates are connected by folding one of the plates and by welding or riveting the plates "together". The end plates are anged or bent to form beveled corners as indicated at 6, 6 sofasto provide room at one side for a brake operating lever and lto provide a step at the other side. This providesv a body which is very simple in construction and which is of relatively large carrying capacity and at the same time is greatly limited in overall y dimensions.

The body is carried by wheel trucks. There are two independently mounted wheel'trucks at each end of the car. They are similar in construction and the description of one will answer for the others. Each wheel truck includes side frames l, 'i which are formed of heavy plates.

These side plates are connected together by transverse angle plates .8, 8 and a semi-cylindrical gimbal supporting plate 9. These plates are welded together and to the side plates, thus making a very rigid wheel frame. There are wheel axles I 0, I8 extending from one side of the frame to the other on which are mounted Ilanged wheels I I, II. These wheel axles are rigidly connected to the side members and further aid in the for if ing of a rigid wheel frame structure.

Mounted on the gimbal supporting member 9 is a body supporting member or gimbal I2. This supporting gimbal I2 is provided with parallel flat sides and parallel end `members and also a bottom mem er, all of which are integrally connected. The side members contact with the inner faces of the side frames and .guide the gimbal in its shifting movements. The end members are spaced away from the gimbal transverse angle plates I3,V 8. Carried by this body supporting member is a hardened steelsieeve I3. The sleeve I 3 is cylindrical and is press tted into the gimbal i2 so as to become a unit therewith. This hardened steel sleeve which is a wear Vsleeve may be,

however, removed andreplaced. A king post !-i- I of hardened steel ts within the sleeve and the sleeve I3, together with the body supporting member and the truck, is free to oscillate on the king post about a vertical axis. The king post can move up and down in the sleeve I3. The king post is also provided with a dust guard I5 to seal the dirt away from the Aclose fit between the king post and the'gimbal or' body sup- 'porting member. The king post I4 and the dust seal I5 are welded to a plate It which, in turn, is Welded and riveted to the heavy end floor plate 3. The gimbal orl body supporting member is curved to conform to the inner face of the gimbal supporting member 9 and the truck frame can shift on this body supporting member and thus oscillate in a longitudinalvertical plane when the Wheels are traveling over uneven tracks. Mounted in the body supporting gimbal I2 is an abutment plate I'I provided with a central upstanding hub around which is disposed a coil spring I8. Y

Outside of the coil spring I8 is a heavy spring I9. The upper end of the light spring bears against the oor plate 3 and the upper end of the heavy spring bears against an abutment sleeve 2b which in turn bears against the plate I6. These springs are so dimensioned that under light load the body will be supported on` the light spring and the heavy spring abutment sleeve will be out of engagement with the plate I6. This light load condition of the springs is shown in Figure '7a. When a heavy load is carried, then bothV springs function to support the body, as shown in Figure 7.

From the above it will be apparent that the body is so mounted on the wheeltrucks that the trucks may have three motions.' One, they may swing about a vertical axis when passing around curves; two, theymay oscillate in a vertical plane when traveling over uneven tracks; and three, the body may move vertically under spring control relative to the trucks. As noted, the wheels are inta-ndern on each truck and are flanged so that the front wheel of the outside truck, when following a curved track lead` ing to the left, Ywill turn the truck about a verti cal axis so that it will follow the curved track. The opposed trucks at each end of the car are connected by a tie bar 2i so that the turning .the plate 432.

movement of one truck about a vertical axis will be imparted to the opposed truck.

The mounting for the truck described above is shown, described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 660,5)90 led April 10, 1946.

Mounted on the side frames l', 'i is a brake shoe cage including a supporting bracket 22. This bracket is provided withr depending members 23, 23 atvone endV thereof which members are pivotally connected to the side member by a pivot bolt 24. There are also depending members 25, 25 at the other end of the brake shoe bracket which are likewise pivoted to the other side member of the truck frame. The brake supporting bracket has parallel spaced arms 26, 26 rigidly attached thereto, which arms carry a brake shoe 2l which is mounted on a pivot bolt 28 extending through the arms 26, 26.

The brake shoe bracket 22 has laterally extending members ES, 2B and the tie bar is connected'to the brake shoe bracket by means of a pin 3E having tapered ends SI, 32 which fit the upper and lower members 29, 29 of the brake shoe bracket. This pin 3Q is hardened and engages a bushing 33 whichV is mounted in the tie bar and a rubber seal 34 is provided at each end of the bushing to prevent Water and dust from werking into the connection between the pin and the bushing.

This universal connection between the tie bar and the brake shoe enables the tie bar to move endwise and thus impart the movements of one truck to the other without interfering with the independent movements of the trucks in vertical planes. It also permits the tie bar to be oscillated or twisted for swinging the brake shoe bracket on its pivotal support, thus moving the brake shoes into Y and out ofV engagement with the wheels. As a means for turning the tie bar about an axial line intersecting the pivots 24 a swivel pin 35 is located in the tie bar adjacent one end thereof.V A link 36 is connected at 3'? to the upper end of this swivel pin and is connected at 38 to a brake operating lever 3S fnlcrumed at IIB on the floor plate t. This lever 39 is pivoted at iI to a triangular shaped plate 2. The triangular shaped plate 152 is connected at Q3 to a link is which in turn is connected to a hand operated lever 45. This hand operated lever is pivoted at i6 and is adapted to engagea toothed rack 4l' which holds the lever in a set position.

The braking mechanism applied to the truck at the rear end of the body is similar in construction to that which has been described above in coni nection with the trucks at the front end of the body and similar reference letters have been applied thereto. Tlie lever 39 of the rear braking mechanism is connected to a rod Q8 which extends along the side kcf the car and is pivoted at Il!) to When the hand lever is operated for setting the brakes itWill swing the plate 42 either on the pivot pin connection 4I to the brake lever 3g as a fulcrum, or on the pivot pin 49 con necting the plate 452 tothe rodv 4,8. One or theY other of the brake shoes may be pressed against the rim of its associated wheel and -this will become a fulcrum so that the other brake shoe will be pressed against the rim of its associated wheel. By this arrangement a uniform pressure of the brakeshoes on the rims of the wheels can be obtained. Itis noted that the pivot pins joining the brake shoe supporting bracket tothe wheel frame are Vso disposed that the center of gravity. of the tie bar and the brake cage as a Whole is toward the center of the car relativeto this pivotal con-V nection, and, therefore, the brake kshoestend-to 'the support Vlal for the gimbal which is'for the puf.

stand clear of the wheel by the action of gravity on the tie 'bar-.-

It is also noted that the tie bar is relatively short. As the trucks follow the curved track the cantilever -swivel pin describes a definite circular path and the center ofv this circular path determines the normal location of therconnection between the link 36 and the lever 39. yIn Figures l1 and 2 of the drawings this-curved path is shown in dotted lines and the link 36 in Figure 1l, is at the center ofits lateral travel, While in Figure 2 it is in one extreme of its lateral swing. The swinging of the trucks, therefore, does not in any way bring about a twisting movement of the [tie bar.

The brake lever 45 is made of spring steel so that it will provide flexibility to the application of the brakes and permit the operator to tighten the brakes to the desired amount even when the notches in the plate 41 are spaced a limited distance from each other. This springing of the brake lever compensates for any slight errors which occur in the construction of the brake rigging and various movements of the truck frames.

The trucks are free to travel from a tangent track to a curved track, and vice versa. They are also free to oscillate in a vertical plane without aiecting the braking mechanism and at the same time.

the brakes may be applied equally eiiciently when the car is traveling on a tangent track or on a curved track.

In order to limit the turning movements of the trucks on their vertical axes, stops 5l) and 5l are provided on the under side of the body against which the inner side frame of the truck contacts for limiting the inward turning of the trucks. There are also stops E2 and 53 mounted on the body plate 5 which are engaged by the ends of the side members of the Wheel frame which likewise limit the turning movements of the trucks about vertical axes. When the mine car is traveling around a curve, as indicated in Figure .2, the

flange of the forward wheel of the outside truck engages the outer rail and guides the car around the curve which may be of a very short radius. The wheel frame will be limited in its turning movement when it contacts with the stop 50. The

centrifugal force of the Icar body transmitted to the truck frame through the king post tends to force the ange of the rear wheel of the outside truck against the rail. However, the truck frame of the inside truck will engage a stop 53 and this will have the effect of centering the rear wheels of the opposed truck in relation to the rails. The tie bar is relatively short and will swing the inside truck to a slightly greater angle than the outside truck. This further aids in maintaining the wheels of the inside truck in proper engagement with the inside rail.

When traveling around a very sharp radius curve at slow speed, the wheels adjacent the well or center section of the car tend to travel in a plane that is perpendicular to the wheel spindles. The rear wheels on the leading trucks tend to roll toward the inner rail, while the wheels ad- `jacent the well 0n the trailing end of the \car,'that is, the leading wheels ofthe rear trucks, tend to roll away from the inner rail. The stops associated with the rear trucks prevent said trucks from swinging through too great an angle so as to prevent the leading Wheel on the rear truck from dropping between the rails.

1t will be noted thatthere is an opening 9a in pose of permitting any foreign material to sift out of the gimbal support instead of accumulating in the bottom thereof. When the dirt accumulates in the bottom of the pocket formed bythe gimbal supporting member, it is apt to lift the gimbal off its seat., This seat is cylindrical and the horizontal axis thereof extends transversely with respect to the track and holds the wheelsin a vertical plane of rotation. Dirt accumulating on the seat is likely to cause the top of the wheel to lean outward. It will also be'noted that means is provided for supplying oil to the interior of the gimbal. This isvaocomplished by the opening in the stool for the spring and anvopening in the bottom of the gimbal which preferably has a" valve for controlling the lubrication.

The operation of my improved brake actuating mechanism is thought to be clear from the detailed description given above. VIt is noted, however, that there is a brake shoe associated with each truck and that all of the brake shoes may be moved into gripping engagement with the wheels by a single manually operated lever. The mechanism interposed between the operating lever and the brake shoes includes the tie bar connecting opposed trucks and the setting and releasing of the brakes is accomplished by a turn-V ing movement of the tie bar which is so connected 'to the brake supporting cages and to the actuating lever therefor that the trucks may swing on their vertical axes without in Vany way disturbing the action of the braking mechanism and likewise the connection between the tie bars and the brake cages is of a nature which permits l the trucks to move independently in vertical planes. The brake actuating mechanism has been greatly simplified by including the tie bar'as an element thereof, and,at the same time, this functioning of the tie bar in the braking mechanism does not in any Way interfere with the movements of the wheel trucks.

in the details of construction and the arrangelnient of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A rail vehicle comprising a body, opposed indepen-dent wheel trucks on which said body is mounted, each wheel tinck including a wheel frame on which wheels are mounted in tandem, supporting means between each wheel frame and the body permitting the wheel frame to swing about a vertical axis, to oscillate in the plane of the wheels, and to move bodily vertically relative to the body, a brake cage pivotally mounted on each wheel frame for swinging movement in the plane of the Wheel with which it is associated, a brake shoe carried thereby, each brake cage having a rigid armprojecting inwardly from the truck frame, a tie bar pivotally connecting the opposed brake cage arms whereby horizontal turning movements of one wheel truck are imparted to the opposed wheel truck, and means connected to said tie bar for turning the Vsame for swinging thebrake cages on its pivotal mounting and movo ing the brake shoes into and out of contact with the wheels. l Y

`2. A rail vehicle comprising a body, opposedin- `dependentwl'ieel trucks on which said body is mountedeach .wheel truck including a wheel frame on which wheels are mounted invtandelfn, lsi ipporting means between each wheel frame and 'the'body permitting the wheel frame to Vswing 2.54,@ bis@ .about e vertical axis, tebscillete in the, plane ,ofV

the wheels, and to move bodily vertically-relative to the body, a brake cage pivotallyV mounted on each wheel frame for swingingmovement in the plane of the wheel with whichrit is associated, a brake shoe carried thereby, each brake cage having a rigid arm projecting inwardly from the truck frame, a tie bar lpivotally connecting the opposed bralse cage arms whereby horizontal turning movements o i one wheel truck are imparted to the opposed wheel truck, a swivel pin carried by said tie bar and projecting at rightV angles therefrom, a brake actuating lever mounted on said body, a link pivotally. connecting the swivel pin with said lever and manual means for oscillating thetlever for turning the tie bar for swinging the brake 'cages in their pivotal mountings. e

3. Arail vehicle comprising a body, opposed independentwheel trucks on which said body is mounted, each wheel truck including a wheel frame on which wheels are mounted in tandem, supporting means between each wheel frame and the'body permitting the wheel frame tok swing about a vertical axis, to oscilla-te in the plane of the wheels, and to move bodily vertically'relative e .to the body, a brake cage mounted on each wheel frame for swinging movement in the plane of the wheel with which it is associa-ted, a brake shoe carried thereby, each brake cage having a rigid arm projecting inwardly from the truck frame, a

tie bar pivotally connecting the opposed brake cage'arms whereby horizontal turning movements of one wheel truck are imparted to the opposed wheel truck, a swivel pin carried by said tie bar and disposed thereon so as to move in a circular path when the wheel trucks turn on their vertical axes, a brake actuating lever pivotally mounted on said body, a link connecting the swivel pin to said brake lever, the pivotal connection between the link and the brake lever being disposed substantially at the center of the curved path of travel of the swivel pin, and manual means for actuating said brake lever.

4.' A rail vehicle comprising` a body, opposed independent wheel trucks on which said'bo-dy is mounted, each wheel truck including a wheel frame on which wheels are mounted in tandem, supporting means between each wheel frame and the body permitting the wheel frame to swing about a vertical axis, to oscillate in the plane of the wheels, and to move bodily vertically relative to the body, a brake cage mounted on each wheel frame for swinging movement in the plane of the wheel with which it is associated, a brake shoe carried thereby, each brake cage having a rigid arm projecting inwardly from the truck frame, a tie bar pivotally connecting the opposed brake cage arms whereby horizontal turning movements of one wheel truck are imparted to the opposed Wheel truck, a swivel pin carried by said tie -bar and projecting at right angles therefrom, a brake actuating lever mounted on the iioor plate of the body, Ia link connecting said lever with said swivel pin, a hand-operated lever pivoted intermediate its ends, devices for connecting the lower end `of said hand-operated lever with the brake actuating lever, a rack bar having notches adapted to receive said hand-operated brake lever, said hand-operated lever being oi spring metal and dimentioned so as to yield to compensate for lvarious motions of the truck frames.

5. vA rail vehicle comprising a body, opposed inf dependent wheel trucks on which said body is mounted, each wheel truck includingra wheel 'frame on which wheels are mounted in tandem,

supporting means between each wheel frame and .the body permitting the wheel frame to swing about a vertical axis, to oscillate in the plane of the wheels, and to move bodily vertically relative to the body, a brake cage mounted on each wheel frame for swinging movement in the Vplane of the wheel with which it is associated, a'brake shoe carried thereby, each brake cage having'g rigid armv projecting rinwardly from 'the truck frame, a tie bar pivotally connecting .the opposed brake (138e arms whereby horizontalturning movements of one wheel truck are imparted to the opposed wheel truck, each pivotal connection between the tiebar and the brake cage arm including a harde elle@ bushing anda tapered pin for permitting free and independent movement of the wheel frames ina vertical plane. e

6. A rail vehicle comprising a body, opposed independent wheel trucks on which said body is mounted, each wheel truck including a .wheel frame on which wheels are mounted in tandem, supporting means between each wheel frame and the body permitting the whe frame to swing about a'vertical axis, to oscillate in the plane of the wheels, and to move bodily vertically rciative to the body,V a brake cage including a supporting bracket, a brake shoe `carried thereby, means for pivotally connecting said bracket to the wheel frame adjacent one of the wheels thereof, said bracket having projecting arms extending inwardly trem the wheel frame, a tie bar pivotally connected to the inwardly projecting arms of opposed wheel trucks whereby horizontal turning movements of one wheel truck are imparted to the opposed wheel truck, the pivotal connection between each brake cage and the tie bar including a hardened bushing and a tapered prin which permits independent movements of the wheel trucks in `vertical planes, and means connected to the tie bar vfor turning the same for swinging the supporting brackets for mcving the .brake shoes into and cutvof Contact with the wheel. Y

'LA rail vehicle comprising a body, opposed .independent wheel trucks on which said body is mounted, each wheel truck including a wheel frame on which wheels are mounted in tandem, supporting means between each wheel frame and the body permitting the wheel frame to'swing about .a vertical axis, to oscillate in the'plane `of the wheels, and te move bodily vertically relativeto the body, a brake cage including a supporting bracket, a brake shoe carried thereby, means for pivotally connecting said bracket to the `wheel frame adjacent one of the wheels thereof, said bracket having projecting arms eX- Ytending inwardly from the wheel frame, a tie bar pivotally connected to the inwardly projecting arms of opposed wheel trucks whereby horizontal turning movements of one wheel truck are imparted to the opposed wheel truck, the pivotal connection between each brake cage and the tie bar including a hardened bushing and a ytapered pin which permits independent movements of the wheel trucks in vertical planes, said tie bar having a swivel pin mounted therein adjacent one of the wheel trucks and projecting at right angles therefrom, a brake actuating lever mounlted on said vehicle body, a link connecting said actuating leve;` with the swivel pin, and manual means for swinging said lever.

8. A rail vehicle comprising a body, opposed independent wheel trucks on which said body is mounted, each wheel truck including a wheel 9 supporting means between each wheel frame and the body permitting the wheel frame to swing about a vertical axis, to oscillate in the plane of the wheels, and to move bodily vertically relative to the body, a brake cage including a supporting bracket, a brake shoe carried thereby, means for pivotally connecting said bracket to the wheel frame adjacent one of the wheels thereof, said bracket having projecting arms eX- tending inwardly from the wheel frame, a tie bar pivotally connected to the inwardly projecting arms of opposed wheel trucks whereby horizontal turning movements of one wheel truck are imparted to the opposed wheel truck, the piv otal connection between each brake cage and the tie bar including a hardened bushing and a tapered pin which permits independent movements of the wheel trucks in vertical planes, said tie bar having a swivel pin mounted therein adjacent one of the whee trucks and projecting at right angles therefrom, a brake actuating lever mounted on said vehicle body, a link connecting said actuating lever with the swivel pin, and manual means for swinging said lever, said swivel pin being so disposed on said tie bar as to move in a circular path and said pivotal connection between the link and the actuating lever being substantially at the center of said circular path.

9. A rail vehicle comprising a body, opposed independent wheel trucks on which said body is mounted, each wheel truck including a wheel frame on which wheels are mounted in tandem, supporting means between each wheel frame and the body permitting the wheel frame to swing about a vertical axis, to oscillate in the plane of the wheels, and to move bodily vertically relative to the body, a brake cage mounted on each wheel frame, and including a supporting bracket, a brake shoe carried thereby, said supporting bracket being pivoted to the wheel frame, arms projecting inwardly from said supporting bracket,

a tie bar pivotally connected to saidinwardly projecting arms whereby horizontal turning movements of one wheel truck are imparted to the opposed wheel truck, means connected to the tie bar for turning the same for swinging the brake shoes into and out of contact with the wheels, the pivotal connection of the supporting bracket being so disposed relative to the projecting arms and the tie bar that the weight of the tie bar tends to turn the supporting bracket to move the shoes away from the wheels.

10. A rail vehicle comprising a body, opposed independent wheel trucks at each end of said 10 i body for supporting the same, each wheel truck including a wheel frame on which wheels are mounted in tandem, supporting means between each wheel frame and the body permitting theV wheel frame to swing about a vertical axis, to

oscillate in the plane of the wheels, andato move K bodily vertically relative to the body, a' brake cage mounted on each wheel frame for swinging movement in the plane of the wheel with which it is associated, a brake shoe carried thereby, each brake cage having a rigid arm projecting inwardly from the truck frame, a tie bar pivotally connecting the opposed brake cage arms whereby horizontal turning movements of one wheel truck are imparted to the opposed wheel truck, a swivel pin carried by each tie bar connecting the opposed trucks, a brake actuating lever associated with each swivel pin, a floating member to which said brake actuating levers are separately connected, and manual means connected to said member for oscillating the same for moving first one tie bar and then the other for setting the brakes.

having a rigid arm projecting inwardly from the truck frame, a tie bar pivotally connecting the opposed brake cage arms whereby horizontal turning movements of one wheeltruck are imparted to the opposed wheel truck,'and means iorswinging each brake shoe cage on its pivotal mounting for moving thebrake shoes carried thereby into and Vout of contact with the wheels.

HENRY FORT FLOWERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS of record Vin the Number Name Date 1,992,814 Kellogg Apr. '7, 1914 2,063,545 Flowers Dec. 8, 1936 2,250,554 Schroeder July 29, 1941 

